IU Relay for Life raises all-time record $60,000

In the 20-hour span from noon Saturday till 10 a.m. Sunday morning, the Gladstein Fieldhouse was transformed into a festive celebration of life, a somber memorial to those who have passed and a determined battleground of people willing to take steps to fund research aimed at defeating cancer. \nRelay for Life, the American Cancer Society's signature fund-raising event, attracted about 500 students, parents, cancer survivors and local community residents who took to the track in a 20-hour team relay trek.\n"(Relay for Life) is important because it helps fund research," said sophomore and cancer survivor Amy Hayes. "It also helps bring together survivors and brings hope that we can overcome this." \nMore than doubling the previous year's donations, Relay for Life brought in $62,848, consisting of about $52,000 in fund raising before the event and a little more than $10,000 that was raised during the event. Much of the fund raising was given through online donations as each team was given its own Web site where money could be contributed via credit card. \n"It has surpassed everyone's expectations in only our second year," said senior and IU Relay for Life Co-chairman Andrew Schlachter. "It provides only greater motivation for years to come."\nMore than 60 teams registered to participate in the Relay, where at least one participant from each team is on the track at all times during the 20-hour event. Teams were made up of sororities, fraternities, student groups and groups of friends and supporters. \nKicking off the event was the survivor victory lap, which honored the 18 cancer survivors present and their caregivers. Following this, the Relay began with many of the participants taking to the track. \nWhile it is required that participants only walk around the track, one team took it a step further. The Marines Against Cancer group consisting of student and non-student local Marines decided that they would instead have at least one team member running the track at all times during the entire 20-hour stretch. \n"We wanted to do something challenging for us," said senior Rob Regedanz. "Because cancer patients have to put up with challenges and struggle their entire lives, we can put up with a little struggle for 20 hours."\nA brief pause in the Relay came at 9 p.m. Saturday night when the luminary ceremony began. At this time, all the participants stopped walking and stood beside the luminary candles that lined the track, which represented the life of someone who has been touched by cancer. Then, with only the light of the luminary bags illuminating the fieldhouse, a somber speech was given as the names of hundreds of cancer survivors and victims were read out loud. Following this, all participants proceeded to take part in a victory lap around the track. \n"I think everyone is touched by cancer. Even if you weren't affected personally, someone you know has been," said senior and IU Relay committee member Lindsay Koltun. "This part of the event allows everyone to calm down and realize why they are doing this in the first place."\nMany of the participants chose to spend the entire night at the Fieldhouse as dozens of tents were set up in the middle of track. When they were not actually waking in the relay, there were plenty of outlets for the participants' energy, including socializing, resting, playing sports or taking part in a variety of events.\nEvents like a pie-eating contest, obstacle course, tug-of-war, ultimate frisbee and dancing occurred throughout the night. IU men's a capella group Straight No Chaser and a band, The District, also provided live music throughout the event.\nOn-site fund raising was a big part of the Relay as well, as a euchre tournament, a root-beer pong contest and bake-sales were held. Phi Mu, Delta Upsilon and Alpha Delta Pi sponsored one of the largest events by raffling away a car. A portion of the proceeds then were contributed to Relay for Life, along with several other organizations. \n"The success of the event is less about me, the groups, the organization, but about the general response about how important this is," Schlachter said. "And how much the kids of IU care and how important it is that we address this."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Trevor Brown at brownta@indiana.edu.